Viscosimeter comprising orificed baffles at intervals along a fluid passage



March 10, 1959 KURYLKO ETAL 2,876,637 VISCOSIMETER COMPRISING ORIFICED BAF'FLES AT INTERVALS ALONG A FLUID PASSAGE Filed Sept. 9, 1957 Uited tates late VISCOSIMETER COMPRISING ORIFICED BAFFLES AT IN TERVALS ALONG A FLUID PASSAGE Application September 9, 1957, Serial No. 683,199

3 Claims. (Cl. 73-56) The present invention pertains to the art of determining the viscosity of lluids, with particular reference to viscous fluids.

The invention comprises a viscosimeter that is of simple construction, is readily portable, is operated easily 'by unskilled personnel, and is adapted particularly for iield use to determine the viscous properties of materials.

The viscosimeter ofy the present invention comprises a tube of predetermined length that is open at its opposite ends, thus providing an inception or incipient and a discharge end, respectively. Near the discharge end of the tube, a plurality of bailles extend across the passage of 2,876,637v Patented Mar. 10, y1959 ice tioned at intervals along the length of the tube 11, 12,

the tube, and are located spaced apart at predetermined intervals lengthwise of the tube. Each baille constitutes a partition, and neighboring partitions deiine a chamber inside the tube. There are several such chambers in succession along the tube, in the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. The last of the several bailles is located at or near the discharge end of the tube.

Each baille is perforated to provide an aperture or oriiice of predetermined area and contour. Material ilowand engage the outside surfaces of the halves 11 and 12 to constitute a securing device that holds the tube in closed condition. Bore 16 is sealed by grooves 18 containing lengths 19 of rubber or `the like material extending along companion contacting faces 20 in the diametrical plane between halves 11 and 12. Material is prevented thereby from escaping through the sealed walls of the tube when such tube is held by clips 17.

Innermost baille 23, with intermediate baille 24 adjacent thereto, and outermost baille 25 adjacent -to baille 24, are positioned in tube 11, 12 near the extremity 26 of its discharge end, and are located at predetermined intervals lengthwise of the tube. When tube 11, 12 is closed, it forms a cylinder, and comprises smooth bore 16 extending continuously from extremity 27 of its inception end to the inside or -approach face 28 of baille 23. Opposite end faces 26 and 27 of tube 11, 12 are squared, and yare disposed parallel to each other.

Bailles 23, 24 and 25 constitute discs, which iit each into its companion annular groove in the inside wall of ing towards the discharge end of the tube passes through the orifices of the several bailles in succession, and is retarded at each baille because the orifice thereof is a constriction inthe tube passage.

Oriiice areas are progressively smaller, in successive bailles, from the innermost baille that is nearest the inception or incipient end of the tube to the outermost baille that is at the discharge end of the tube. This structure operates to trap material in successive chambers. Each orifice resists ilow of material into the next chamber, resistance of successively smaller orifices being increased progressively along the tube. The rate of ma'- terial ilow is controlled thereby, to govern the factor of retardation that is a function of the viscosity of material ilowing through the tube.

The inside wall of the tube is smooth, and constitutes a straight-line bore from the extremity of the incipient end of the tube to the first or innermost Ibaille along the tube. This space contains the material being tested, which is propelled along the tube and through successive batlles under a predetermined force, and the material ilows out of the ltube at its discharge end when it passes the last of the several successive bailles. The rate of ilow of material through the tube, measured 'by the time interval required for a predetermined quantity of material to pass along the tube, is a function of the retardation of ilow, and thereby measures viscosity.

The accompanying drawing discloses one practical embodiment of the invention. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an instrument embodying the invention. Fig. l is partly in section to illustrate the invention more clearly, and shows the instrument in the position of its operation;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional plan, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the instrument of Fig. 1, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

tube 11, 12, constituting bore 16 extended to discharge extremity 26. The several grooves are positioned along the length of tube 11, 12 to locate their respective bailles at their desired positions near the discharge extremity of the tube, and spaced apart according to the predetermined desired intervals between successive baihes. The space between bailles 23 and 24 constitutes a chamber 30 inside the tube, of which bailles 23 and 24 are opposite partitions, and which is located in the tube towards its discharge end away from its inception end. Chamber 31 succeeds chamber 30, and is constituted between the opposite partitions of bailles 24 and 25. Chamber 31 is located along the length of tube 11, 12 adjacent to its discharge end 26.

Each of the several partitions 23, 24 and 25 is per-` forated to provide a passage through the partition. Each passage constitutes a constriction of the passage for material ilowing through the tube, and each perforation in the disclosed structure constitutes an aperture,` Apertures 33, 34 and 35 of respective oritices are each of a size and contour that is predetermined to produce the desired degree of retardation of the ilow of material. Orice areas of successive apertures 33, 34 and 35 are reduced progressively to increase the retardation progressively, and to trap material in successive chambers 30 and 31.

A chamfer 36, 37 and 38 of each of the respective apertures 33, 34 and 35, in the trailing face of its corresponding baille 23, 24 and 25, constitutes a sharp peripheral edge of the aperture in the plane of the approach face of its corresponding disc 23, 24 and 25 respectively. The wall surface of each orifice in the direction of material ilow is reduced thereby to the thickness of a peripheral line. Surface friction caused by material ilowing through any given baille is thus eliminated as a factor of retardation. A

The several apertures 33, 34 and 35 are located centrally in their respective discs of their corresponding bafiles 23, 24 and 25, and are positioned coaxially with the In one embodiment of the invention, orifice 33 is cir-- cular, and is one-and-one-quarter inches in diameter, tube 11, 12 having a bore of two-inches diameter. Orifice 34 of succeeding batiie 24 is three-quarters inches square. Contours of succeeding orifices are varied, as illustrated by circular orifice 33 followed by square orifice 34, to change the shape of the stream and thereby to avoid channeling. Orifice 35 of bafiie 25 is three-eighths inches square, and is displaced rotatably forty-five degrees with reference to orifice 34, as seen in Fig. 2, to change the shape of the stream and avoid channeling.

The specifically described structure, and the dimensions specified, were devised particularly to measure viscosity of foam, and to determine comparative viscosities of several foam materials. The invention can be used to determine viscosities of other materials, including materials other than foam. The specifically disclosed dimensions, which were devised particularly for measuring viscosity of foam, can be varied within the scope of the invention, and the instrument modified in other particulars, for measuring viscosities of other materials than those with which the invention was actually reduced to practice. In the disclosed embodiment, each bafiie is onequarter inch thick, and there is one inch space between proximate faces of adjacent baffles 23 and 24, as also between 24 and 25. There is space of one-half inch between discharge extremity 26 of tube 11, 12 and the proximate face of bame 2S. The distance between incipient extremity 27 of tube 11, 12 and the inner or leading face 28 of innermost baiiie 23 is thirteen-andthree-quarter inches.

Bore 16 is filled with material being tested, from leading face 28 of innermost bafe 23 to incipient extremity 27 of tube 11, 12, and the material then is propelled towards and through the discharge end at extremity 26 of the tube under a predetermined force, which preferably is maintained constant. The time interval that is required for a predetermined quantity of the material to travel a predetermined distance along tube 11, 12 is measured, and this time interval constitutes a measurement of the viscosity of the material. The time interval of a given test is the only measurement that the operator needs to record to determine the viscosity of the material tested. A weight is employed to apply the constant propelling force.

Plunger 40 lits bore 16, and therefore is two inches in diameter. Plunger 40 is one inch long. Tube 11, 12 is held in its upright position of Fig. 3, with its discharge end at 26 directed downwardly. With material filled into bore 16 from approach face 28 of baflie 23 to inception end 27 of tube 11, 12, plunger 40 now is inserted into bore 16 at its inception end. Plunger 40 begins to descend immediately by the force of gravity, driving the material downwardly through orices 33, 34 and 35 of respective batiies 23, 24 and 25 in succession.

In the practical application of the invention of testing the viscosity of different foams, the time intervals of different tests varied within limits that were deemed undesirably wide. A short time interval of test is desired to avoid drainage effects of foam on its viscosity, as also to reduce film effects of foam between the plunger 40 and the wall lof bore 16 which may affect the reliability of comparative tests between different foam materials. Therefore, it was desired that no time interval of any test be longer than one minute.

Several plungers of respectively different weights were provided for testing foam, all having the same dimensions as plunger 40 shown in the drawing. The several plungers are made of different materials, consisting of iron, aluminum, and plastic of lighter weight, respecf tively. The several plungers weighed 400 grams, 147 grams, and 60 grams, respectively.

The heavier iron plunger was used for testing the most viscous of the foams tested, to bring the time interval of all tests within the maximum desired time of oneA minute. i

The lighter plastic plunger was used for testing the most fiuid foams. The factor of human error in manually starting and stopping a stop watch is rendered negligible by making all time intervals of tests at least as high as a predetermined minimum. The time interval of testing the most fluid of the foams that were tested was raised to one-tenth of a minute or more by means of the plastic plunger.

The aluminum plunger was employed for testing foams in a range between the most and least viscous. By this means of the yseveral plungers 40 of different weights, the time interval of all tests were maintained within a range between one-tenth of a minute and one minute.

To operate the instrument of the invention, the operator opens tube 11, 12 to the position shown in Fig. 4. He then places the several bafiies 23, 24 and 2S in their respective companion grooves, positioned relative to each other as shown in Fig. 2. The operator then fills bore 16 of the tube 11, 12 with the material to be tested from the approach face 23 of baffle 23 to the incipient end of the tube at 27. After filling the two halves 11 and 12 to the level of surfaces 2i) in Fig. 4, the operator closes the tube and clamps it shut by means of spring clips 17.

Now the operator positions tube 11, 12 upright in the position `ot" Fig. 3, and inserts plunger 40 in bore 16 into the extremity at 27 of the incipient end of the tube. The operator may hold the tube upright in his one hand, while he operates a stop watch manually with the other hand. The preferred material of tube 11, 12 is any suitable transparent plastic, which enables the operator to observe the descent of plunger 4t) in the tube. The operator starts the stop Watch when plunger 40 passes any suitable datum point along the length of the tube. For example, a suitable starting point can be the moment when the top surface of plunger 40 reaches extremity 27 of the tube, as appears in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The operator stops the stop watch when plunger 40 reaches any other suitable datum point along tube 11, 12. For example, a suitable stopping point can be the moment when the plunger is stopped by face 28 of baffle 23, and occupies the full line position 0f Fig. 3.

It will be observed that operation of the instrument of the invention is simple, and can be performed with cornplete satisfaction by unskilled persons who are taught correct operation and procedural standards from simple written instructions. The instrument is cleaned readily after each test, and contamination as a factor of error is eliminated thereby. The instrument of the disclosed embodiment has been correlated with reference to prior art viscosimeters that are known to be accurate, and the accuracy of the simple instrument has been proven thereby.

With reference to a given material being tested, the operator is required to record the time interval of the test only. If conditions that applicant encountered in testing foam should prevail, several plungers of different weights can be employed. In such case, the operator is required to indicate the particular plunger that he used for any given tests. This data is all that a person needs to compare viscosities of several materials.

The instrument of the invention is readily portable, and thereby can be taken into the field for use. By tests being made in the eld and evaluated elsewhere, the material to be tested is not required to be transported to -be tested at the central location where the studies are being made. in the case of foam being the material that is tested, drainage effects are magnified by transportation, and drainage effects that make test results unreliable are eliminated -by use of the instrument of the invention in the field.

If it is desired, tube 11, 12 can be rested with its discharge end 26 bearing on any flat surface while plunger 40 descends in the tube, instead of being held inthe hand.

- The tube can be positioned on the fiat top d2 of table 43,

for example, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Table top 42 is provided with locating ledge 44, which positions tube 11, 12 over hole 45 of the table top. As plunger 4@ descends in tube 11, 12 towards bafe 23, the material that is discharged out of the end 26 of the tube through bae 25 falls through hole 4S of table 43, into waste container 46.

The scope of the invention, one embodiment of which is shown in the drawing, is determined by the accompanying claims.

1. In a viscosimeter, a tube of predetermined length comprising open opposite incipient and dis-charge ends respectively, a plurality of bales near the discharge end of the tube positioned in succession spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the tube and comprising an outermost bafe at the discharge end of the tube and an innermost baille inwardly therefrom in the tube, each baie being perforated to constitute an orifice of predetermined area through the bae, orifices of the several baes comprising each a single aperture located coaxial- 6 s sively, inside walls of the tube from the innermost 4baile to the extremity of the incipient end thereof constituting a smooth bore of predetermined length and uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length, and a plunger of predetermined weight fitting the bore to travel along the tube.

2. In a viscosimeter as dened in claim 1, the several bales comprising at least three in succession to constitute at least two successive chambers along the tube.

3. In a viscosimeter as defined in claim l, the tube comprising two halves divided along a diametrical plane with companion faces of contact between the halves, a securing device operable to hold the tube in closed condition and releasable alternatively to part the tube halves and open the tube, a seal along companion faces of contact between turbe halves to close the walls of the tube duid-tight.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,822 Strasburger April 18, 1911 1,826,732 Chatillon Oct. 13, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 577,578 Germany June 1, 1933 

